Northern Ohio Railway Museum Then and Now Photos

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NORM Then and Now Photo Collection

The purpose of this page is to show the history of traction in Northern Ohio, particularly the Cleveland and Southwestern. The museum's right-of-way is on the former C&SW. Below you see photos taken today - compare them to photos taking during the operations of the C&SW. We hope you enjoy them!
Cleveland and Southwestern (North to South)
Strongsville Brunswick Medina Chippawa	West Branch Lodi Creston South Branch Wooster Mansfield
Lake Shore Electric Railway
Bay Village
Click any image below to enlarge it

Strongsville (Formerly known as Vigil)
Here is Strongville station where the CSW crossed the B&O railroad and had an interchange. The CSW paralleled Prospect road, and the interchange track still exists. A handsome station!	The interchange track today, looking north from end of rail - right where it entered CSW switch! This is probably the only intact section of CSW rail left!
This is the station from around 1910, looking north on the B&O. This too is a handsome station!	Looking north on the B&O ( now CSX ) today. Note the "third rail" is actually a cut in the road for the beginning of grade crossing repairs.
Prospect road near SR 82, where you can plainly see the old CSW row profile and how progress has eaten it away 70 years later.
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Brunswick
Southwestern "ruins" alongside Substation Road in Brunswick near the Medina Township line. These two bridge abutments are only 500 yards from each other, and 1/2 mile from the bottom photo depicting the line on a large fill at Hamilton Road. Taken 04/04/2003.	Please note that a pair of wooden barricades still stand sentinel guarding each edge of the abandoned crossing over 70 years after the bridge was removed.
This is looking south towards the Rocky River bridge and on to Fenn Rd crossing (ex- SR 264 ). The pole line dutifully marks the way. The property owner still mows the r.o.w. for personal use, but KEEP OFF! And be sure to ask permission first before trespassing on any property when searching for interurban "ruins".
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Medina
This photo is an old photo of The Southwestern in Medina.	Photo shows Medina Square looking towards Chippewa.
This "Y" in Medina was one block north of the square and, barely visible included a hexagonal phone booth as seen in the picture, just to the left of the sign. Note the cyclist of the day. NORM owns an un-restored phone booth from the line, it COULD very easily be this one.	This is a view in Medina of the beautifully restored interurban stop. It was originally located north of town near Fenn Rd on route 42, and later moved to this display site and restored by the Medina Community Design Committee
This was the famous 1910 Circle Tour charter - it literally circled Northern Ohio with a photo stop in Medina	View of the Cleveland & Southwestern 1911 Circle tour photo stop in Medina . . . It shows two cars on the extra ( note flags on car to the right ) Extra will then be running SOUTHBOUND towards Chippawa Lake Park and on to Seville Junction.
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Chippawa
Substation at Chippawa located just north of the northern end of the museum right-of-way.	Closeup view of the roof line, note the "bird"
This end of the building shows where the feeder lines use to enter the building.	Here are former abutments from the CSW right-of-way in Chippewa Lake Park.
This is the Northernmost end of the NORM property, where the CSW once crossed Lake Rd in Chippawa Lake and entered Chippawa Lake Park. To the left is the beginning of a new housing development that will abut the line. All photos by John Kostelnik except where noted.
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West Branch from Seville
Lodi
Here is a Cleveland Southwestern classic wood interurban standing directly in front of the LODI station. Note the sidewalk running right under the car. Note the little girl on the platform, she would be 95 if alive today! Note the horse drawn buggy under the arch.	Lodi Southwestern right of way as seen in 2000. As you can see This scene is mostly intact today, except that the interurban and the station are gone. Horse drawn buggies still pass this way - thanks to the rich Amish community nearby.
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Creston
Postcard of Main St in Creston, OH
Postcard of Stebbens Bank in Creston, OH
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South Branch from Seville
Wooster
This is a former Southwestern substation, now a residence. Looking south on SR 3 just north of Wooster	Detail of the substation - C.S.W.T. lettering still visible despite the tall trees
These are the old platform lamps, waiting in silence for the next car - 70years later.
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Mansfield
Postcard of interurban at Mansfield Depot.
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Lake Shore Electric Railway
The Lake Shore Electric Railway ran from Cleveland's Public Square to Rocky River, Avon Lake, Sheffield, Lorain, Vermillion, Huron, Bellevue, Sandusky, Norwalk, and Toledo from 1894 to 1938
Bay Village
1930's: “Look out, here comes LSE wooden car #149 on its way to Beach Park. Here it is crossing the Bay Village trestle. Looks like a crisp day. The passengers are nice and cozy in there big leather seats. Car is west bound train 36.” Photo from the John Petersen collection. The caption is from John’s photo album.	January 2007 at the Metropark Huntington Reservation. Looking east on the Lake Shore Electric right-of-way at the west end of the Huntington Trestle. Both photos are looking east. Photo by Ralph Pfingsten.
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Last Updated 01/12/2012

For questions or comments about N.O.R.M. please contact:
Walt Stoner
For questions or comments about this website please contact:
Brian Gage

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